As the leaders of the Connecticut College parent and family community, Parent and Family Council members work to engage their peers in the life of the College as liaisons for parents and families of current students. Members also serve as ambassadors of the College in their home communities and professional networks. Increasing parent and family support, in all its forms, is the primary focus of the Connecticut College Parent and Family Council. 

PFC Members Are:

  • Ambassadors for Conn who are well-versed in the College’s priorities and initiatives for the purpose of sharing information and engaging past and current parents and families
  • Leaders for parent family programming, including helping to create engagement opportunities for parents and other family members to strengthen their connection with the College
  • Motivators for financial support to the College, thereby serving as an example for Camel families to contribute charitably to Conn.

The Parent and Family Council traditionally meets in person two times per year: once during Fall Weekend and again in the spring. New Schedule:

  • October 19: Fall weekend in person meeting
  • November/early December: Virtual meeting
  • February: Virtual meeting
  • April: In person on-campus meeting with option to Zoom in (Global Commons Zoom Room)

As a member of the Parent and Family Council, there are many ways to volunteer and partner with the College. We ask that all members participate in one or more of the following ways:

  • Make Connecticut College a philanthropic priority. Gifts to the Parents Fund provide crucial unrestricted dollars that support every aspect of a Conn education, including financial aid, study away, athletics, career development and countless other programs and opportunities for current students. We would also welcome your support of additional areas of interest particular to your family.
  • Engage in one or more of our leadership volunteer  opportunities: 
    • Career and Professional Development Volunteer
      Through the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement and the Hale Center for Career Development, volunteer leaders will help prepare students for careers through job shadowing, internships, career-related panels and other speaking opportunities. 
    • Connecticut College Parents Fund Volunteer
      Building on Conn’s remarkable tradition of parent philanthropy, volunteer leaders will work closely with our Leadership and Annual Giving teams to raise funds from parents and families to enhance the educational experience for all students.  
    • Engagement Volunteer
      Working closely with our Alumni and Parent Engagement team, volunteer leaders will engage parents and families in the life of the College through regional and on-campus programs.  Volunteers also assist the Office of Admission with welcoming new families to the College and hosting regional welcome events. 
    • Social Media Ambassador Social Media Ambassadors engage with fellow parents on social media, spreading the word of College happenings, parent news, upcoming events and fundraising campaigns. Help generate a positive buzz about the College by liking, sharing, reposting and commenting on Connecticut College and Connecticut College parent content, as well as posting photos from College events.

Members of the 2024-25 Parent and Family Council

Co-Chairs: 

Adrienne and Kenneth Winemaster P'27 (Lake Forest, Illinois)

Members:

Merrell Aspin P'28 (Denver, Colorado)
Laurence Bailen and Jennifer Weber P'27 (Newton, Massachusetts)
Karen Baker '92 P'27 and Marshall Saffer '92 P'27 (Rye, New York)
Julie and David Best P'27 (Darien, Connecticut)
Elena and Alessandro P'27 (New York, New York)
Lisa Brandes and Scott McLean P'26 (New Haven, Connecticut)
Daryl Colden and Kristin Tallman P'26 (Newbury, Massachusetts)
Linda and Gabe Cole P'26 (Wellesley, Massachusetts)
Grant Schneider and Larry Diamond P'26 (New Canaan, Connecticut)
Mina Dietzius P'26 (Wayland, Massachusetts)
Lee and Suzanne Feldman P'25 (Waban, Massachusetts) 
Andrew Goldman '94 P'27 and Catherine Malchodi-Goldman '97 P'27 (Potomac, Maryland)
Christine and David Grawemeyer P'27 (Denver, Colorado)
Mark Gudaitis and Heidi Vass-Gudaitis P'25 (Topsfield, Massachusetts)
Andrew and Alison Hamm P'26 (Norwalk, Connecticut)
Stefanie Kalkut and Lanier Saperstein P'26 (Rye, New York)
Jennifer Hartley-Johnson '92 P'22 '25 (Concord, Massachusetts)
Waqas Wajahat and Shari Jones P'25 (Easton, Connecticut)
Joseph Jutras and Ann Marie Viglione P'25 (South Hamilton, Massachusetts)
Elizabeth Longsworth and Thomas Kreyche P'25 (Seattle, Washington)
John and Elizabeth Linehan P'18 '23 '24 (Townson, Maryland)
Allison and Keith Mayberry P'27 (Frisco, Texas)
Rick Mayer and Melanie Barocas-Mayer P'26 (Guilford, Connecticut)
Letty and Robert Melillo P'25 (Frenchtown, New Jersey)
Garth '93 and Christina Halvorsen Ross P'23 '25 (Washington, DC)
Scott and Jenifer Schindler P'26 (Suffern, New York)
Maria and Paul Selian P'27 (Portsmouth, Rhode Island)
Robert '91 and Eva '91 Shea P'26 (Alexandria, Virginia)
William and Kimberly Sushon P'26 (Old Greenwich, Connecticut)
Scott and Jane Sussman P'26 (New York, New York)
Elysa and Alan Todd P'27 (Tenafly, New Jersey)

For more information about the Parent and Family Council at Connecticut College, please contact Tori McKenna, Director of Advancement Events and Campaign Operations at vmckenna@conncoll.edu or 1-800-888-7549 x2302. 


For more information about the Parents Fund, please contact Michael Spicer, Director of Annual Giving, at mspicer@conncoll.edu or 1-800-888-7549 x2111.